Considering Dvc but should we tour?

[krishouse]

Hi,
My husband and I are hopefully going to be in Orlando in the Fall, and I am currently trying to save for a good downpayment on a DVC(my dream!).
I was curious if it is beneficial to do the Vacation Club tour of Saratoga Springs? If we sign there on the spot are there any incentives? Or should I just sign up from home?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Kristin

 

[wtpclc]

If you sign up now, you can start using DVC points for your next vacation.

You will get any available offers over the phone the same as someone in WDW now.

If you wait to tour DVC, they will give you whatever offer they may have. However, you will only have something like 3 days to make your decision or you will lose that special offer. That's the only real drawback to waiting (besides not starting to use your points asap)

 

[JimMIA]

I took the SSR tour at the beginning of February. I think the only thing the photos don't capture is the spaciousness of the 1,2, and 3 bedroom units. They are MUCH larger than they look in the photos.

When I went through the tour, there was absolutely no pressure of any kind. Nor were there any incentives that I would have lost in a couple of days. There was an incentive which was expiring at the end of February, and they told me about that, but no other inducements.

Other than seeing the spaciousness of the units, and being able to do the Q & A thing with your guide, I don't see any benefit to the tour...unless your husband is reluctant. The tour may overcome his reluctance when he sees how nice the units are.

 

[Coastie]

If you and your family are Disney fanatics like we are (and like most people on this website!!!), you will NOT be disappointed if you purchase site unseen. We based our decision on the responses from the experts on this website and purchased VWL without a visit. We have been extremely satisfied. Then two years ago we added on at BCV site unseen... then paid a visit during our trip during Christmas. What a beautiful place!

The only thing to watch out for... buying/adding points can be addicting!!

 

[officer tigger]

We did the samething. We are BIG time WDW fans and bought from home without the tour. We knew that each year we would be going to WDW, so we bought at the VWL without ever seeing the place.

 

[vernon]

While you don't NEEED to do the tour before you buy, I would say that even if you buy before you go down there, I would still put time aside to take the tour and go armed with a number of questions if there is anything you're not sure about. It's a great opportunity to see all the different unit sizes, ask questions, get information about the other DVC resorts. In my experience there are few "incentives" that are offered on an "if you sign in the next two days" variety. As has been said, if you buy now ( or soon) you could get on with using your DVC points for your stay in the fall .

Good luck with your choice.

 

[DrTomorrow]

We too bought into SSR sight-unseen (site-unseen ) and haven't regretted it. We also did what vernon suggested: our first trip to WDW after buying (which was not at a DVC resort) we met with our guide, he gave us the tour and answered any questions we had.

And while I felt a little funny making such a major purchase without seeing it, there is so much information - and so many opinions - here on the DIS that I felt much more informed than a non-DIS person who'd simply walked up to a DVC kiosk....

Be well!

 

[SoCalKDG]

I hadn't even been to WDW when I purchased a resale. Since I was an AP holder at DLR I knew my family was a Disney family. Going home for the first time in April.

 

[crisi]

Its probably worthwhile to do some research before you visit - even if you decide to wait. For instance, DVC isn't going to fess up on the resale market.

We bought without visiting, from information here, other places and photos. We did find the photos to be a fairly accurate representation of space and decor - they didn't seem much more spacious to me than the photos seemed.

 

[krishouse]

Thanks everyone!
I am hoping to sign up this summer
Kristin

 

[disneyberry]

[SIZE=+0]I think some people end up being very happy with their DVC purchase even when done sight unseen. I would still recommend to most people that it might be helpful to actually visit each of the DVC resorts to look around; and sometimes if the resort is not too busy, the front desk might even be able to let you take a look inside a villa. (Of course, at SSR, you'll get to see the official model rooms, and they'll take you on the sales tour.)

This is important if you care about choosing the right home resort for your family. Some of us have strong preferences for one resort over another. If home resort is not that big a deal, or if you are 100% sure you'll be bypassing the resale market and buying directly through Disney (in which case you'll have no choice, you must buy SSR), then visiting all the other resorts won't matter so much.

We personally bought OKW sight unseen, and then later regretted it. If we had actually taken the time to visit OKW before buying, we probably could have avoided the hassle we later went through of "swapping home resorts" to BWV. [/SIZE]

 

[Greysword]

After our honeymoon cruise, we went to WDW for three nights and my new DW said she would be willing to get into DVC. Well, I was taken aback, and we went directly to SSR via the bus system right after we checked into the Swan (it was about 8:30am or so). I start it like this to say we toured and then bought during the same stay.

After getting the tour and our questions answered, we took the info and went to the Swan. After a nice nap (you get up early on DCL to leave ), we went back to sign our docs.

Here are the advantages we had for signing there that I have yet to hear on these boards:

We signed the docs right then and they were notarized by a DVC rep (ALL paperwork done and nothign lost).

I had bought some breakfast vouchers and Lunch Vouchers on eBay for our trip (BTW, I still have them, so if someone needs them, PM me, 2 each adult versions) but I did not get the Quick and Casual. Since I heard on the DIS that they had some, I asked my sales rep if I could purchase a couple. He left and returned with two for free!

Of course we got the backpack and litho of SSR, but as we were leaving, our guide asked if we were given the FastPass cards. He left and came back with two plastic cards with the DVC logo on them that can be used to get 2 extra fast pass tickets! Thus, I could have a fastpass for Splash Mountain and Space Mountain at the same time! It was a nice little extra we plan to use on our next trip (plus the cards are neat).

They also have van specifically for new DVC customers that will pick you up from wherever and take you to the SSR DVC office and then return to wherever you want later. We used them to go back to the hotel after the first visit then to MK after signing. The drivers would not hear of taking a tip and ours were great!

One thing that was mentioned on here, some guides have given families (especially the children) free SSR pins for their lanyard.

I guess the advantage to going is being able to pick up some freebies along the way!

Good luck!

Oh! Forgot one last thing!! We received a temporary DVC member card after signing that can be used liek the regular plastic one. Thus, the DVC discounts on APs, restaurants, water parks, Disney Quest, etc is available immediately. Also, you can use the card to ask the pin stores to show you the special DVC pins, shirts, or whatever they may have

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Buy a small contract via resale now. Then buy an add on through DVC with their current incentive.

Then use the points for your fall stay.......

 

[Muushka]

Gosh, I cannot imagine plunking down that kind of $$ without seeing what I am buying. Just curious, are you sure you want SSR? We had vsited OKW, BWV and waited for VWL to be built. And even though we had stayed at WL several times, we still paid cash for a 1 bedroom at VWL to be sure we wanted to buy there. For such a large investment I would want to be sure, but then I spend 10 minutes at the grocery store comparing products to be sure I bought just the perfect item .

 

[paslea_pooh]

Would I buy sight unseen, probably not. We usually think things thru 1000 times before we buy anything. We toured SSR and I wish I would have taken my digital camera. The rooms, suites are undescribable! Even the studios are gorgeous!!! We are a family of six and would always need two rooms if we were to rent in a normal hotel. The cost is incredible. Buying into DVC makes sense.

I believe someone said buy resale and then do an add on thru DVC. That's smart because if you do the reverse your use years may be different. When you add on thru Disney it adds on to your current use year.

We toured DVC on March 25, 2005, didn't purchase b/c we wanted to go home and go over our finances. I called my guide exactly at the 3 day mark and she told me not to "worry" about the date. I gave her my deposit on April 5th - two days ago.

I've heard that the per point charge is going to go up from 95 dollars a point to 98, I think the first week of June. So you have to take that into account.
Right now they have the 8 dollar credit per point so you are really paying 87 dollars a point.

Good Luck on your decision. Either way , I don't think you will be sorry.

Best wishes to you

Alida

 

[cristbaby]

We bought at SSR sight unseen, and we won't be going on our first vacation "home" until October 2. We heard about it though someone that works with DH. I don't think I will ever regret it.